• Reviews advantages and disadvantages of different protected cultivation systems, from greenhouses and net houses to aquaponic and vertical farming systems.
• Detailed assessment of current research on optimising the two main variables in protected cultivation: the aerial environment and root development.
• Particular focus on systems control to optimise product quality and environmental impact.
  

1.Achieving sustainable greenhouse production: present status, recent advances and future developments: Leo F. M. Marcelis, Wageningen University, The Netherlands; Joaquim Miguel Costa, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal; and Ep Heuvelink, Wageningen University, The Netherlands;

Part 1 Production systems
2.Advances in greenhouse design: Juan I. Montero, formerly Institut de Recerca i Tecnología Agroalimentaries, Spain; and Yi Zhang, Qichang Yang and Xinglin Ke, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, China;
3.Advances in screenhouse design and practice for protected cultivation: Josef Tanny, Agricultural Research Organization – Volcani Center, Israel;
4.Sustainable systems for integrated fish and vegetable production: new perspectives on aquaponics: B. W. Alsanius and S. Khalil, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sweden; A. Tadesse, Debre Berhan University, Ethiopia; A. K. Rosberg, K. J. Bergstrand, R. Hartmann, L. Mogren, M. Alam, M. Grudén and T. Naznin, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sweden; and A. Getahun, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia;
5.Advances in organic greenhouse cultivation: Martine Dorais, Université Laval, Canada;
6.Towards sustainable plant factories with artificial lighting (PFALs): from greenhouses to vertical farms: Toyoki Kozai, Japan Plant Factory Association, Japan; Yumiko Amagai, Chiba University, Japan; and Eri Hayashi, Japan Plant Factory Association, Japan;

Part 2 Crop management
7.Understanding crop responses to controlled climates in greenhouses: Chieri Kubota, The Ohio State University, USA;
8.Developments in growing substrates for greenhouse cultivation: Youbin Zheng, University of Guelph, Canada;
9.Advances in irrigation management in greenhouse cultivation: Stefania De Pascale, University of Naples Federico II, Italy; Luca Incrocci, University of Pisa, Italy; Daniele Massa, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Italy; Youssef Rouphael, University of Naples Federico II, Italy; and Alberto Pardossi, University of Pisa, Italy;
10.Advances in nutrient management in greenhouse cultivation: Neil S. Mattson, Cornell University, USA; and Christopher J. Currey, Iowa State University, USA;
11.Advances in pest and disease management in greenhouse cultivation: Gerben J. Messelink and H. Marjolein Kruidhof, Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands;

Part 3 System management
12.Automation and robotics in greenhouses: E. J. van Henten, Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands;
13.Models, sensors and decision support systems in greenhouse cultivation: Oliver Körner, Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), Germany;
14.Assessing the impact of environmental factors on the quality of greenhouse produce: Nazim Gruda, University of Bonn, Germany;
15.Sustainable use of energy in greenhouses: S. Hemming, J. C. Bakker, J. B. Campen and F. L. K. Kempkes, Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands;
16.Assessing the environmental impact of greenhouse cultivation: Assumpció Antón, Erica Montemayor and Nancy Peña, Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Spain;